Virgil Thomson: A Reader: Selected Writings, 1924-1984

Virgil Thomson is universally recognized as one of the twentieth century's greatest writers on musio -- how it is made, performed, and marketed to the public. Working for New York's Herald Tribune from the '40s through the paper's demise in the '60s, and thereafter writing for the New York Review of Books, Thomson set a new standard for intelligent writing on music, aimed at a general reader. Fun, provocative, and thought-provoking, Thomson gives a perceptive look at the classical music world of his day. A composer himself, Thomson brought a unique sensibility to the criticism of music. Whether working for a daily newspaper or writing for a small-circulation journal on modern music. Thomson brought a witty and erudite tone to his criticism. Not suffering fools gladly -- and unwilling to kowtow to the powers that be -- Thomson's writing remains as fresh as it was when it was new.

Richard Kostelanetz has edited over forty collections of essays on American culture, ranging in subject matter from avant-garde fiction to collections of critical writings on John Cage and Frank Zappa. He is also a published critic, writer, and artist.